Printing machine



Dec. 17, 1935. l k E, L. MUELLER N 2,024,594

PRINTING MACHINE INVENTOR Dec. 17, 1935. E, L, MUELLER 2,024,594

PRINTING MACHINE Filed sept. 22, 1951 5 sheets-shea 2 INVENTOR EmzZL/fzwllelf il* i7, 1935.. E. 1 MUELLER PRINTING MACHINE Filed sem` 22, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 NNW www www Dec. 17, 1935.

E.- L. MUELLER PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY E, l.. MUELLR N Y 2,024,594

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1931 5 Sheet's-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITI-:o STATES ATENT orgies 27 Claims.

, man-ner,

A further object is to provide a printingmachine including means to removably retain an electro-type, a printing roll for rolling over said lelectro-type, inking means for inking the electrotype, means by which the rollis adapted to carry the paper sheet so that said sheetwill be printed as the roll traverses the electro-type in one di-v rection, means to prevent printing contact between the roll and the electro-type when the roll traverses the electro-type in the .opposite direction, means by which the paper sheet is accu` rately fed to and held by the printing roll preparatory to movement of the roll over the electrotype for performing the printing operation, means to insure release of. the printed sheet for removal after the printing operation hasbeen completed, manually controllable power means for causing the printing roll to move in opposite directions over the electro-type, and automatically operable means to insure against undesirable movement of the printing roll beyond its intended limits in opposite directions.

A further object is to provide means whereby the printing roll mechanism may be moved manually whenever so desired.

A' further object is to provide inking rollers and a carriage therefor and to provide means whereby said carriage maybe moved either as a unit with the printing roll mechanism or manually as a separate unit as desired.

A further object is to construct the mechanism so that ample free space maybe available for inserting and removing electro-types as desired, also ample access to the ink carrying plate and to so arrange the parts of the mechanism as to insure movement of the inking rollers at least twice over the-surface of each new electro-type prior to the printing of the first sheet'from said electro-type.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specic than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following .description of Athe elements, combinations, arrangements of partsand (Cl. 10i- 269) applications of principles constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and in which I have shown merely a preferred form of embodiment ofthe invention:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a printing machineV constructed in accordance with this invention. l

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure seen in Fig. l but with the paper sheet feeding mechanism being'omitted.

I Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the. machine. 15s

Fig. 4 is -a fragmentary top plan View, partly in section, illustrating the automatic control for the electric motor employed.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of the left hand end portion of the 20, machine showing theY parts as they appear when the printing `roll is at this end of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the portion of the machine seen in Fig. 5`

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the paper sheet feed 25..

mechanism. y

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional view illustrating the separable connecting means between the printing roll carriage and the inking roll carriage. f

Fig. 9Vis a fragmentary detail perspective view of a part of the paper sheet feed mechanism employed,- and Fig. l0 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of the right hand end portion of the machine showing the parts as they appear when the printing roll is at this end of the machine.

Referring to the drawings for describing in detail the exemplary structure which is illustrated therein, the reference character L indicates a main frame preferably including legs as l-l by which the main bed or table portion 2 is elevated at a suitable heighth from the oor.

The bed 2 is of a general rectangular shape and 45. extendingl along its opposite longitudinal edge portions are two rack bars 3 3.

The reference character G indicates generally the printing roll mechanism.

The reference character H indicates generally Y the inking roller mechanism.

The reference character A indicates generally the paper sheet feeding mechanism.

The paper sheet feeding mechanism is arranged y in a stationary position. at the left hand end of the machine, as seen in Fig. 1. It is carried upon a pair of standards 4 4 which rise from the main portion of the machine and which carry at their upper ends a sheet metal table 5 upon which may rest a pile of paper sheets as at 6. The table 5 has an inclined portion 1 along which the sheets may be moved by hand into position, as indicated at 8, where they can be picked off one after the other by the printing roll as will be presently described.

The printing roll mechanism G and the ink roller mechanism H are mounted to travel back and forth along the length of the machine, the printing roll mechanism having carrying rollers as 99 at its opposite sides which rest upon tracks I0 which are provided at opposite sides of the main frame for this purpose, and the ink roller mechanism having similar rollers as I I-I I for likewise engaging the tracks I0.

'I'he mechanisms G and H are formed separate from each other so that they may be capable of movement back and forth along the machine as independent elements whenever desired, but in order that they may at times traverse the machine as a single element a suitable connecting device is provided, as indicated by the latch I2. This latch I2, see Fig. 8, is shown as being pivotally mounted upon the side frame i3 of the mechanism G and as having a. notch adjacent its free end adapted for engaging about a suitable member I4 which is carried by the side frame member I 5 of the mechanism H. A rest I6 is provided for holding the latch I2 normally in a position such that when the mechanism G and H are moved toward each other the relatively inclined end surface I1 of the latch will cam against the member I4, the notch of the latch dropping about the member I4 when the two mechanisms have been moved sufficiently together.

The member I4 may be a stationary lug provided upon the frame I5 if desired, but preferably it takes the form of an adjustable clamp screw of such character that, as seen in Fig. 8, when the latch is in connecting position the screw may be clamped down tight so as to prevent unintentional disconnection of the latch.

This connecting mechanism may be duplicated at opposite sides of the machine if desired.

The printing roll mechanism G includes the opposite side frame members l3-I3 and these may be held together in any appropriate manner, as for instance by the tie rods I8-I B. Upon one of these side frames is mounted a suitable electric motor as I9 and upon the other is carried a control switch mechanism 20.

From the pulley 2l of the motor a sprocket chain 22 extends about a pulley 23 which is carried upon a short shaft 24. The shaft 24 has a pinion 25 thereon in mesh with a gear 26. The gear 26 is mounted loosely upon a shaft 21 and has driving connection with said shaft through the medium of a slippage clutch mechanism 28 so that operation of the motor will drive the shaft 21 except in the event of a possible positive stoppage of said shaft 21 as will be presently referred to.

The shaft 21 extends entirely across the machine, being mounted in the opposite side frames I3-I3, and fixed to this shaft spaced apart thereon are two gear wheels as 29 and 30 the teeth of which intermesh with the teeth of the rack bars 3-3 respectively so that rotation of the gears 29 and 30 will cause the printing roll 1 mechanism to move bodily along the length of the rack bars from one end of the machine to the other, in either direction, according to the direction of rotation of the motor pulley 2I The switch mechanism 20 is shown as being constructed to provide three separate push buttons as 3|, 32 and 33, and the wiring, not illustrated, by which this switch mechanism is connected with the motor is such that operation of the button 3| will produce rotation of the motor pulley in a direction to move the printing roll mechanism toward the paper feed A, while operation of the button 32 will produce opposite rotation of the motor pulley to thereby cause the printing roll mechanism to move toward the right hand end of the machine.

The button 33 is connected so that Whenever it is operated, as in an emergency, the circuit will be broken and the rotation of the motor pulley will be immediately stopped regardless of the position of the printing roll mechanism with respect to the length of the machine.

The reference numerals 34 and 35 indicate two switch mechanisms which are mounted spaced apart adjacent opposite ends of the machine, see Figs. 1 and 4. Carried upon the printing roll mechanism G so as to travel back and forth with the printing roll mechanism are two switch control rods, as 36and 31, for said switches 34 and 35 respectively. The two switches and their control rods are so arranged that when the printing roll mechanism approaches its left hand extremity, Fig. 1, the rod 36 will engage against the switch lever 38 of the switch 34 and swing said lever to operate said switch, and so that when the printing roll mechanism approaches its right hand extremity the rod 31 will engage against the switch lever 39 of the switch 35 and swing said lever 39 to operate said switch 35.

The switches 34 and 35 are connected in the circuit of the motor I9 and are preferably of a character such that when operated they will simply break said circuit and leave the motor idle so that the entire mechanism will stand motionless until the operator again presses one or the other of the buttons 3| or 32.

' But, if desired, these witches 34 and 35 may be of a character such that when operated they will simply produce a reversal of direction of the motor pulley so that the lprinting roll mechanism will at once begin its reverse travel along the machine roll mechanism as to be adjustable particularly in "i a direction longitudinally of the machine, as most clearly indicated in Fig. 4, as in this way the precise moment at which the switches 34 and 35 will be thrown, with respect to the position of the printing roll mechanism longitudinally of the machine, can be determined to a ncety, and this is of importance particularly when the printing roll mechanism is at the left hand end of its travel because at this time the printing roll mechanism is required to co-operate in a most precise manner with the paper delivery mechanism.

Suitable stops, as 40 and 4 I may be provided at opposite ends of the machine, engageable by fixed parts of the printing roll mechanism, as for instance the tie rods I8-l3, as seen in Fig. 3, for positively preventing movement of the printing roll mechanism beyond said stops 48 and 4I at any time. If for any reason the printing roll mechanism should strike against the abutments 40,; or 4.l,:or if for any other reason, such as over pressure ofthe printing roll against the electrotype etc., the travel of the printing roll mechanism should be4 arrested whilel the motor is still turning, then the slippage clutch 28 will come into use by allowing,acertain'continued rotation of the motor without requiring movement of the gears 29 and 30and thus save the machine from being injured.

At, some times it is desirable to move the printing roll mechanismby hand, instead of by means of the motor, and to this end the drawings here- Withshow a hand wheelas 42 mounted upon a shaft v4,3; said shaft being supported in the side frames I3 ofthe printing roll mechanism. Upon theshaft llis fixed agear it the teethof which stand in constant meshwith the teeth of a gear 45 which isfixedly mounted upon the shaft 2?. Thus manual rotation of the wheel 42, acting through the gears 44 andll, will produce rotation ofthe shaft 21 to move the printing roll mechanisrnin either direction along the length of the machine at the Will of the operator.

The opposite side frame members Iii-l5 of the ink roller mechanism H may, be held together inY any appropriate manner, as for instance by the tie rods tti-til; Any appropriate number of'inking rollers as 47-41 extend between the side framesV I5-l5 each rotatably mounted uponsaid frames. These rollers carry gears as dii-418 thereon the teeth of which stand in constant mesh withthe teeth of one of the rack bars 3 so that the rollers 4l are positively rotated in their bearings at allv times when the mechanism is moving lengthwise along the rack bars. AY shaft 49 also extends between the side frames l5 and is pivotally mounted therein. This shaft carries two gears as 5S and 5| xed thereto and meshing with the teeth of the rack bars 3 3 respectively so as to insure, a properly accurate travel of the ink roller mechanism along'the rack bars at all times.

Theshaft It, at one end, also carries a gear 52 the teeth of which are in constant mesh with a gear 53 mounted upon a stub shaft on one of theY side frames l5, and the gear 53 is provided with a detachable handle 5ft by which, when the handle is attached, the shaft 49 may be rotated manually to move the ink roller mechanism along the length of the machine at the will of the operator.

The reference character 55 indicates an ink plate which is positioned atupon the upper surface of the bed plate 2 adjacent to the right hand end of the machine adapted for supplying ink to the rollers IVI-dl Vas said rollers move onto and off of saidplate, in the usual manner.

Itwill be here` noted that whenever it is desired, as for instance when a fresh supply of ink hasjust been'put onto the ink plate, the ink roller mechanism may be rolled back and forth any number of times over the plate 55, by'means of the handle 54, in order to properly distribute the ink with respect to th-e plate and the rollers t1. At such times the connecting link or links l2 by which the ink roller mechanism is connected with the printing roll mechanism maybe disconnected and the printing roll mechanism moved conveniently away to, or n-ear to, the opposite or left hand end of the machine, thereby leaving an open space for the free and unobstructed movement of the ink roller mechanism along the machine not only onto and off of the ink plate t@ but also onto and off of the printing type 56.

The printing-type 56 may be in any desired form but is preferably, as illustrated, in the form of an electro-type mounted upon a supporting bed lza'nd; held between opposing abutments 58 and 59 aftervthe manner as illustratediand claimed in my pending application Patent No. 1,865,478, July 5 1932, Quick-change electro holders for printing machines. The abutment 58 is a relatively stationary abutment while the abutmentall is a relatively movable abutment being carried upon a rod 60 which extends longitudinally of the machine and which is slidably mounted and urged toward clamping position against the electro-type by suitable means such as the coil spring 6l. A suitable foot lever mechanism as 6 i2t is connected, as by means of a bell-crank lb with the outer end of the rod Gil for moving said rod out of clamping engagement with the Velectro-type whenever it is desired to remove said electro-type for the substitution of a different electro-type. In some instances there may be employed only a single one of the clamp members 5t, but in the instance illustrated a plurality of said clamp members are shown arranged side by side across the machine mounted upon independently spring pressed slide rods all of said rods being in turn connected with the single foot lever mechanism 132e as will be readily understood. Where a number of clamp members 'iare employed, as illustrated, only one, or all, ofV said clamp members may be employed to hold a given electro-type, according to the size of said electro-type.

The elements, forming part or the paper sheet feeding mechanism A, include two or more mov- Yable and adjustable stops @-62 spaced apart ,adjacent the lower edge of the inclined portion E of the table 5 in such position that they will be engaged by the lower edge of the paper sheet 3 where said edge extends 1oeyond the lower edge of the table. These stops have inclined surface portions t3 thereon for guiding the paper sheet relatively downwardly toa precise position against said stops as the paper sheet is slid down the table portion 'l against said stops.

The supports for the stops as illustrated, each include a rod 5d which is slidably mounted within a holder 65 and threaded to be engaged by a threaded collar E56 held within the holder in such relationrthat rotation of the collar 66 will adjust the rod longitudinally of the holder so as to thereby adjust the stops 62 in a direction toward or away from the lower edge of the table.

Projecting outward from beneath the lower edge of the inclined portion 'i of theV table is a pair of light leaf spring fingers Sii-5l positioned one beneath each of the stops 62 and being received within notches E58 formed in the lower ends of the stops E2, as clearly indicated in Fig. 9. These light leaf spring fingers constitute rests for supporting the projecting parts of the paper sheet as said sheet is moved against the stops, and they co-operate with the inclined surfaces 63 of said stops to define a precise position for the lower edge of the paper sheet and to thereby properly facilitate the gripping of the sheet by the gripper fingers, as fit, of the printing roll. K

The holders @5 of the stops 62 are fixed upon a cross shaft lil, seeFig. '7, which is mounted to rock in suitable bearings as 'Ei- H at opposite sides of the tabie. An arm i2 is fixed to the cross shaft lil at one end of said shaft and carries an anti-friction roller 'i3 which stands in position to be engaged by a cam it carried upon the top edge off the adjacent side frame member i3 of the printing roll mechanism when said printing roll mechanism moves toward its left hand position, the cam 'il-l being shaped to cause the roller to be first lifted and then dropped as the printing roll reaches itsy appointed position for receiving the Cil paper sheet. This movement of the roller 13 rocks the shaft 'I9 and causes the stops 62, and the spring ngers 6l, which are so shaped that they have a tendency to follow the stops 62 upwardly at this time, to be lifted, as the printing roll approaches, and then dropped so that the lower ends oi the stops 62 extend slightly into the cavity 15 oi the printing roll when the printing roll comes to rest.

The cross shaft lil is provided with a second arm as 'I6 at its end opposite from the arm 'I2 and this arm 1B has an anti-friction roller 11 thereon arranged to be engaged by a small adjustable cam 'E8 which is carried on the end surface of the printing roll T9 in such position that it will engage against the roller Tl to lift said roller, and consequently the stops 62, in just the desired amount and at the precise moment so that the stops 62 will clear the edge wall of the cavity 15, and release a paper sheet, as the printing roll begins its return movement away from the left hand end of the machine.

Any suitable means may be employed to hold the stops 62 normally in their lowered position, and to determine this position, but for this purpose the drawing suggests that a tension spring as may be connected between the arm 12 and the table in such manner as to hold the arm normally pressing against a ledge as 8| of the table.

As a simple expedient to prevent likelihood of retrogressive movement of the paper sheets during the time while said sheets are being engaged by the gripper ngers of the printing roll the drawings herewith suggests the use of one or more small bristle brushes as 82-82 carried upon a cross shaft 83 parallel with the shaft '10. The shaft 83 is freely rotatable in bearings 84--84 at opposite sides of the table 5 and the brushes project laterally from the shaft and are suitably weighted so that the bristles of the brushes bear frictionally against the paper sheets as said sheets pass beneath them. The brushes stand in a diagonal position with respect to the sheets so that while they permit unhindered movement of the sheets downwardly along the table they nevertheless serve to oppose any retrogressive or upward movement of the sheets.

The gripper lingers G9 are mounted upon a rock shaft 85 which is arranged within the cavity 15 of the printing roll, the opposite ends of the shaft 85 being rotatably received in bearings provided in the opposite end walls 86-86 of the printing roll. At one end the shaft 85 projects through the end wall 88 and carries a laterally extending arm 8l,A and engaging this arm is a compression spring 83 serving always to urge the shaft in a contra-clockwise direction and to thereby always urge the gripper fingers toward gripping position.

A second laterally extending arm as 89 is connected with the shaft 85, the arms 81 and 89 being preferably in the form of a simple bell-crank as illustrated in Fig. 5, and carries an anti-friction roller 99.

Rotatably mounted upon the adjacent side frame i3 of the printing roll mechanism is a short shaft 9| and carried by this shaft is a gear 92 to which is xed a laterally extending arm 93, said arm G3 being disposed to swing in the path of the roller 99 for moving said roller against the pressure oi spring 88 when said arm strikes said roller, as in Fig. 5.

The printing roll 'i9 has gears as 94 and 95 at its opposite ends respectively standing always in mesh with the teeth of the adjacent rack bars 3--3 so that the printing roll will be positively rotated as the printing roll mechanism moves fromend to end of the machine as heretofore described.

The gear 92 stands in constant mesh with the gear 95 so that the arm 93 swings around continuously during the travel of the printing mechanism, but it is to be particularly noted that the ratio of gears 92 and 95 is such that the arm 93 will come into engagement with the roller 90 of the grippers 89 only at one position of the printing mechanism, namely just as the printing mechanism reaches its left hand end extreme position preparatory to receiving a sheet of paper beneath the gripper nger, as in Fig. 5.

As the printing mechanism reaches the position Fig. 5 the arm 93 lifts the gripper iingers so that said fingers stand raised when the printing mechanism comes to rest. While the printing mechanism stands at rest the operator slides a sheet of paper as 8 down the table portion 1, beneath the brushes 82 until the lower edge of the paper extends beneath the gripper ngers, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the movement of paper being arrested at this point by engagement against the stops 62.

The return movement of the printing mechanism is now begun and the rst fraction of this movement swings the arm 93 backwardly away from the roller 90 so that the gripper fingers snap downwardly under power of spring 88 to grip the lower edge of the sheet. At the same moment the cam I8 lifts the stops 62 as heretofore explained, and the printing mechanism continues on its way toward the right hand end of the machine carrying the paper sheet with it in such manner that said sheet will be applied against the electro-type 58 as will be readily understood.

As the printing mechanism approaches the right hand end of the machine, the sheet having been now printed and being ready for removal, the roller S9 rides against the cam strip 96 by which it is made to swing the gripper fingers open, as seen in Fig. 10, the printed sheet, as indicated at 91 in Fig. 10, being then free for removal by the operator, it being noted that although the gripper fingers, in receiving the sheet at the left hand end of the machine, closed on said sheet while standing in a relatively upper position substantially vertically above the pivot axis of the printing roll, yet in releasing the sheet the gripper fingers stand at one side of the printing roll in approximately the same horizontal plane as the pivotal axis of the printing roll, the upper or rear edge of the sheet being thus disposed in a very natural and convenient position for manual removal of the sheet by the operator.

When the printed sheet has been removed by the operator the printing roll mechanism is caused, either manually by use of hand wheel 42, or by means of the motor i9, as heretofore explained, to return again to the left hand end of the machine for receiving another sheet.

It is apparent that in the operation of the machine the printing roll 'I9 passes twice over the electro-type, or printing bed, 55 for each printed sheet, once toward the left of the machine for receiving the sheet to be printed, and then toward the right to carry the sheet over the electrotype to effect the printing operation.

At this point it will be noted that the arrangement and spacing of the parts of the machine 75 V22",(34-,59.4: `i'ssuhthat theink rollers lilY passover the electro-typalor printing bed,.56, also twice foreach :sheet printed, once toward theleft as theiprinting -roll moves to receive the sheet, end then 'toward the right preceding'the printing roll as the printing roll moves to eifect the printing operation. i

YIt is desirable of coursethat the surface of the printing' roll should have no engagement with the surface of the electro-type 55 during'movement of the printing mechanism towardthe left for receiving the' sheet to be printed, and-to this end theidrawings herewith show the printing vroll 'i9 to be rotatably mounted by its opposite ends upon `two separately rotatable carrying members 98 :andi 99 which are mounted to rotate in .bearings and IBI respectively provided to receive them upon the adjacent side frames I3 of the printing roll mechanism. The bearings |80 and Vlil! are eccentric with respect to the centre of rotation of the printing roll, the arrangement is such that V a slight rotary movement of the carrying members g8 and 99 will cause the pivotal axis of the' printing roll to move vertically a suicientrdis- `vtance to placeV thesurface of the printingiroll either in a plane to have printing engagement `with the electro-type or in an elevated plane v.above the plane of the electro-type.

As anV appropriate means by which to rotate Athe carriers 98 and 99 at proper times the drawings herewith show the two carriers to be con- -nected together by a cross shaft |02 ywhich is pivotally mounted by its opposite end portions in `the l'opposite side frames of J the printing roll mechanism and whichv has arms IUS-|03 fixed to its opposite ends, there being links Hit- 1M extending between said arms and the respectivev adjacent carrying members in such wise that a rocking movement of the shaft |92 will Yproduce simultaneous rotary movementof the two carrying members.

Projecting downwardly from the shaft IDZis an arm 1- |35 which carries at its lower'end an anti- "friction roller |96 in a position to engage against a pair of oppositely positioned stops Inland |08. Y The arrangement is such that when the print'- ing vmechanism moves toward the right andk theY Yfarm l051abuts againstthe stop |03` the printing roll is lifted and continues to stand lifted until --the printing mechanism moves to its left hand extreme and the arm |05 is swung by engage- -ment with the stop it?. As the printingmech- 1 anism moves toward the left, therefore, over the Y electro-type, it makes no contact with said electro-type, but the engagement of the arm with the stop |01 'causes thel printing roll to move down again Vso that as the printing mechanism returns to the right hand end-of the machine the surface of the printing. roll `will have proper printing `engagement with the surfaceV of the electro-type.

The frictional engagement between the carrying members 558 and 99 and their bearings is sufciently great that while it permits of forced B5' rotation of. the carrying members when the arm |05 strikes one or the other of the stops lill-m8, still the carrying members will beheld firmly y against movement within the Abearings 'at all other times.

The cam strip Sii against which the roller 9B `ridesjfonopening the gripper fingers when the :printing mechanism reaches its right hand ex- "treme position,V as hereinabove described, ismovably supported, being in the form of an'arm'or jstripfV hanging from'a pivotas |09. Ithas'al Villustrated in Fig. 1f).

nach llo in its edge which, in :one positionzof 'thearm or strip, ts about a. stationarycross `rod IH.

The pivot It and the parts ||0 and ill Vare so'related that when the inotch is iin movement of said arm 89. When however the strip has been moved so that the notch no longer rits about the cross rod but a relatively Vraised portion as H3 engages against said cross rod, then the curved surface H2 stands eccen- 'tric` to the center of rotation of the printing roll, "the lower end portion of the strip curving relatively inwardly sothat the curved edge ||2 constitutes in effect a cam for engagementby the roller 9e to swing open the gripper fingers, as

Any suitable means may be employed for-supporting and' moving the cam strip 96, but for this purpose the drawings herewith showthe pivot l to be formed at the free end of a short arm llfi which projects laterallyfrom a rock shaft H5.

link Hl by which it is connected withA the Yadjacent printing-roll-carrying-member S18- 99 so that the pivot |89 will oe moved to alter the vposition of the cam strip i froml operative to inoperative position and vice versa each time the arm ll 1s swung by engagement with one or the other'of the stops iil or i523 as the case maybe.

It-Will be understood of course that 'the mechanism for operating the gripper fingers mayl be duplicated at opposite sides of the printing mechanism or not as preferred.

Suitable guide ngers as i lil-i I8 may be provided, mounted upon a cross rod l i9 of the print- 'ing roll 4mechanism for guiding and holding the paperv sheets as they move around with the'print- Y ing roll for the printing operation "or as'they stand at; rest after the; printingoperationA Vhas been completed.

Any or all of the rollers 9---9- orY llllfby which the printing roll mechanism G or the inking roller mechanism H, are supported upon the tracksl may be adjustable to provide for a properlyaccurate 'adjustment of 4these vmechanisms 'with respect. to the electro-type andtheV ink'supplying' plate, and to this end the draw- Vings Yherewith Vshow Yone of said rollers Vto'be .mounted upon a supporting pin as I'Zllwhich is -eccentrically adjustable in'its supporting member, namely in this instance the sidev framel3 of .the mechanism-G. The holding nut 2| by which the supportingl pin is connected withithe :side frame i3 being employed to hold the suplporting pin in any rotary position to which it may be adjusted as will be readilyv understood. Obviously'any or all of the rollers 9 and may be adjustably mounted in this same manner, although it is usually sufficient .to provide adjustmentonly for a-portion of said rollers.

rThe normalpositions of rest for the. various elements `of the machine are as illustrated in Fig. 3 and in this normal positionrthe mechanisms G] and H are both at their right hand extremes spaced away from the paper sheet feeding mechanism'A by a considerable gap or open space` as Lat-|22 vwithin which stands, open `to easy access,

Fixed to this shaft is a second arm ||6 v and from the free end of this arm extends a .the electro-type 56 or other printing type employed, the relation of the parts being such that vthe operator may quickly and easily remove the used electro-type and insert a new one, all in uncramped quarters and open to full and easy view particularly from above so that the electrotype may be properly and accurately positioned and correctly and firmly locked against displacement. The extreme right hand position of the mechanisms G and H is not only an advantageous position for the reasons just mentioned but it is a natural position, being that position in which said mechanisms stand at the completion of the printing operation. And, as above pointed out, the subsequent printing of a sheet from a newly inserted electro-type is preceded always by movement of the mechanisms G and H first toward the left for receiving the sheet and then a return to the right for performing the printing operation, by which movements the printing surface of the electro-type is twice traversed by the inking rollers before the printing impression is made.

A suitable handle |23 may be provided for manually shifting the printing roll up and down so that it will or will not have printing engagement with the electro-type as the case may be at any moment irrespective of the position of travel of the printing mechanism G. The drawing Fig. 1 suggests that such a handle may be arranged in a convenient position upon one of the arms |63 so that the cioss shaft |02 may be easily rocked by the operator to rotate the carriers S8 and 99 as heretofore explained with reference to the stops l'l and |08.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A printing mechanism comprising, in combination, a table having printing type thereon at one point in the length of said table, a printing vroll mounted to travel back and forth along the length of said table from one side of said printing type to the other being normally at one side of said printing type and adapted to traverse the printing type to the opposite side thereof for receiving a sheet to be printed and to again traverse .the printing type to the first side for performing the printing operation, a paper sheet feed mechanism arranged at said mentioned opposite side of the printing type adapted to feed to said printing roll a paper sheet to be printed, an inking roller also mounted to travel back and forth along the length of the table from one side o-f the printing type to the other and to apply ink to said printing type at each traversing of said printing type, and a latch device to connect the inking roller to travel with the printing roll, said latch device including means automatically operable to connect the inking roller for travel' with the printing roll, and said latch device being manually operable at will to disconnect said elements.

2. A printing mechanism comprising, in combination, a table having printing type thereon at one point in the length of said table, a printing roll mechanism mounted to travel back and forth along the length of said table from one side of said printing type to the other being normally at one side of said printing type and adapted to traverse the printing type to the opposite side thereof for receiving into the printing mechanism a sheet to be printed and to again traverse the printing type to the rst side for performing the printing operation, a paper sheet feed mechanism arranged at said mentioned opposite side of the printing type adapted to feed into the printing mechanism a sheet to be printed. and 10 an ink roller connected with the printing mechanism to travel therewith adapted, as the printing mechanism moves toward the paper sheet feed mechanism, to traverse the printing type for applying ink thereto', and adapted, as the print- 15 ing mechanism returns, toagain traverse the printing type for applying ink thereto, the connecting means between the ink roller and the printing mechanism consisting of a pivotally mounted latch carried by one of said elements having a cam portion to engage the other element when the elements are moved into proximity with each other thereby swinging said latch for automatically connecting said elements, said latch being readily manually swingable to disconnect said elements.

3. A printing mechanism comprising, in combination, a table having printing type thereon at one point in the length of said table, a printing roll mounted to travel back and forth along the length of said table from one side of said printing type to the other being normally at one side of said printing type and adapted to traverse the printing type to the opposite side thereof for receiving a sheet to be printed and to again traverse the printing type to the first side for performing the printing operation, a paper sheet feed mechanism arranged at said mentioned opposite side of the printing type adapted to feed to said printing roll a paper sheet to be printed,

the table having a rack bar extending lengthwise thereof, the printing roll having a gear engaging the rack bar to cause rotation of the printing roll incident to movement of the printing roll along the table, the printing roll also having gripper fingers for gripping the paper sheet from the paper sheet feed mechanism, and there being means engaging the teeth of said mentioned gear and thereby operable by rotation of the printing roll to operate said gripping fingers for gripping Vthe sheet from the feed mechanism.

4. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing roll mechanism mounted to travel back and forth between two positions along a suitable bed, said mechanism including a printing roll having gear teeth engageable with the bed to cause rotation of said roll in opposite directions during the back and forth travel of said mechanism, and said roll also having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, and means comprised in said printing roll' mechanism operable by engagement with said gear teeth to having bed engaging means effective to cause rotation of said roll in opposite directions during the `backend forth travel of said roll, and said roll also having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, of means operable by said bed engaging means to'thereby operate said gripper ngers.

6. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing rolll mounted to travel back and forth between two positions along a suitable bed and having gear teeth engageable with the bed to cause rotation of the roll in opposite directions during the back and forth travel of the roll, and said roll also having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, of means operable by engagement with said gear teeth to operate said gripper fingers.

7. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing roll mounted-to travel back and forth between two positions along a suitable bed and having gear teeth engagable with the bed to cause rotation of the roll in opposite directions during the back and forth travel of the roll, and said roll also having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, of a gear wheel mounted to move back and forth with said roll having connection with said gripper fingers to operate said gripper fingers and said gear wheel also having constant driving engagement with said gear teeth so as to be driven by said roll to thereby operate said gripper fingers.

8. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing roll mounted to travel back and forth between two positions along a suitable bed and having gear teeth engageable with the bed to cause rotationv of the roll in opposite directions during the back and forth travel of the roll, and said roll also having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, of means mounted to travel back and forth with said roll and having connections with said gear teeth and with said gripper fingers whereby to operate the gripper fingers by power derived from said gear teeth. v

9. In a printing' machine, comprising a table and a printing roll mounted to travel back and forth between two positions along said table and having gear teeth engageable with the table t0 cause rotation of the roll in opposite directions during the back and forth travel of the roll, and said roll also having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, the combination therewith of a gear wheel mounted to move back and forth with said roll andhaving intermeshing engagement with said gear teeth so as to be rotated in. opposite directions according to thedirection of tra-vel of the roll, and a -cam connected with said gear -wheel to rotatetherewith, together with means by which the cam has operative association with said 'gripper fingers to operate said gripper fingers.

10. Ina printing machine, comprising a table and a printing roll mounted to travel back and forth between two'positions along said table and having gear teeth engageable with thetable to cause rotation of the roll in opposite directions during the hack and forth travel of the roll, and said roll also having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, together with a spring actuated lever connected with said gripper fingers always urging said fingers to Ygripping position, the combination therewith of a gear wheelY mounted to move back and forth with said rollV and having intermeshing engagement with said gear teeth so as tobe rotated in opposite directions according to the direction of travel of the roll, and a `cam connected with saidY gear Wheel to rotate therewith having operative 'engagement with said lever to move said lever in a direction to move said gripper lingers to a nongripping position.

11. In a printing' machine, comprising a table and a printing roll mechanism mounted to travel back and.A forth between two positions along said table said printing roll mechanism including a printing yroll having gear teeth engageable with the bed in a manner to insure rotation of the roll in opposite directions during the back and forth travel of said mechanism and said roll also having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, the combination therewith of a gear wheel rotatably carried as a part of said printing roll mechanism vand having intermeshing connection with said gear teeth, and a cam connected with said gear wheel to rotate therewith, together with means by which the cam has operative association with said gripper fingers to operate said gripper fingers.

12. In a printing mechanism, comprising a table having a paper sheet feed mechanism thereon including a movable stop device against which the paper rests, and a printing roll mechanism mounted to travel along the table to and from said feed mechanism including a printing roll having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet from said feed mechanism, the combination therewith of means carried by the printing roll mechanism to move therewith for engaging said stop device to move the stop portion thereof thereby to release a sheet to said gripper fingers.

13. In a printing mechanism, comprising a table having aV paper sheet feed mechanism thereon including a movable stop device against which the paper rests, and a printing roll mechanism mounted to travel along the table to and from said feed mechanism including a printing roll having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet from said feed mechanism, the combination therewith of a cam connected with said printing roll to travel and rotate therewith operable tov engage said stop device to move the stop portion of said stop device to release a sheet to said gripper fingers.

14. In a printing mechanism, comprising a table having a paper sheet feed mechanism thereon including a movable stop device against which the paper rests, and a printing roll mechanism mounted to travel along the table to and from said feed mechanism including a printing roll having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet from said feed mechanism, the combination therewith of a cam connected with said printing roll mechanism to travel therewith operable to engage said stop device to move the stop device in a manner to admit said printing roll therebeneath and a second cam connected with said printing roll to travel and rotate therewith operable to engage said stop device to move the stop portion of said stop device to release a sheet to said gripper fingers.

l5. In a printing mechanism, comprising a table having a paper sheet feed mechanism thereon including a movable stop device againstwhich the paper rests, and av printing roll mechanism mounted to travel along the table to and from said feed mechanism including a printing roll having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet from said feed mechanism, said feed mechanism including a rod pivotally mounted in a position to extend across the sheet and having stop forming portions extending laterally therefrom into sheet stopping position, said .rod also having other y laterally extending parts, said printing roll mechanism including a cam part operable to engage one of said last mentioned laterally extending parts of said rod to rotate the rod for lifting said stop portions, and a second cam connected with said printing roll to travel and rotate therewith operable to engage another of said mentioned laterally extending parts of said rod to rotate the rod for further lifting said stop portions.

16. In a printing machine, comprising a printing roll mechanism mounted to travel back and forth between two positions along a suitable bed,

land a motor carried by and movable with said printing roll mechanism, the combination therewith of a pair of separate switch devices carried by the bed spaced apart and connected with the motor operable to cause rotation of the motor in opposite directions respectively, means carried by the printing roll mechanism to vengage said switch devices for operating said switch devices alternately as the printing roll mechanism approaches its opposite extreme positions, and connections between the motor and the bed operable to cause said printing roll mechanism to move in opposite directions according to the direction of rotation of the motor.

17. In a printing machine, comprising a table and a printing roll mechanism mounted to travel back and forth between two positions along said table said printing roll mechanism including a printing roll having gear teeth engageable with the bed in a manner to insure rotation of the roll Vin opposite directions during the back and forth travel of said mechanism and said roll also having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, the combination therewith of a cam movably mounted adjacent to said printing roll said cam being movable from its inoperative position ineffectual to cause opening movement of said gripper fingers to its operative position effectual to cause opening movement of said gripper fingers, means whereby the printing roll is mounted for movement between impression and nonimpression positions, and means carried by said printing roll mechanism arranged to be moved by engagement with spaced Vstops on said table to move said cam from its inoperative to its operative position and to move said printing roll to its non-impression position incident to movement of the printing roll mechanism into one extreme and to move said cam from its operative to its inoperative position and to move said printing roll to its impression position incident to movement of the printing roll mechanism into the other extreme.

18. In a printing machine, comprising a table and a printing roll mechanism mounted to travel back and forth between two positions along sai-d table said printing roll mechanism including a printing roll having gear teeth engageable with the bed in a manner to insure rotation of the roll in opposite directions during the back and forth travel of said mechanism and said roll also having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, together with a spring actuated lever connected with said gripper fingers always urging said fingers to gripping position, the combination therewith of a cam movably mounted adjacent to said lever said cam being movable from its inoperative position ineffective to cause movement of said lever during rotation of said printing roll to its operative position effective to cause movement of said lever during rotation of said printing roll, and means carried by said printing roll mechanism arranged to be moved by engagement with spaced stops on said table to move said cam between its inoperative and operative position incident to movement of the printing roll mechanism into its opposite extremes.

19. In a printing mechanism, a travelling printing roll, a gripper finger carried by said roll movable into and out of position for holding a paper sheet connected with the roll, a rack along which the roll travels, a gear connected with the roll and engaging the rack to cause rotation of the roll as a result of the travel of the roll along the rack, and means including a part inter-meshing with the teeth of said gear so as to be driven during rotation of the roll for thereby moving the gripper nger to one of its positions.

20. In a printing mechanism, a travelling printing roll, a gripper nger carried by said roll movable into and out of position for holding a paper sheet connected with the roll, means to cause rotation of the roll as a result of the travel of the roll, means movably mounted separate from the roll but having driving connection with the roll so as to be driven by rotation of the roll for thereby moving the gripper finger to gripping position as the roll leaves one end of its travel, and other means for moving the gripper finger out of gripping position consisting of a part disposed to be engage-d by a part movable with the gripper finger as the roll approaches the opposite end of its travel.

21. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing roll mounted to travel back and forth between two positions along a suitable bed and having bed engaging means effective to cause rotation of said roll in opposite directions during the back and forth travel of said roll, and said roll also having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, of means operable by said bed engaging means to thereby operate said gripper lingers as the roll leaves one of its positions, and other means also to operate the gripper fingers as the roll approaches its other position.

22. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing roll mounted to travel back and forth between two positions along a suitable bed and having bed engaging means effective to cause rotation of said roll in opposite directions during the back and forth travel of said roll, and said roll also having gripper iingers for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, of means operable by said bed engaging means to thereby operate said gripper fingers as the roll leaves one of its positions, and other means also to operate the gripper fingers as the roll approaches its other position said last means including a cam mounted for movement into and out of operative relation with respect to the gripper fingers, and means to move said cam to its operative relation as the roll travels to its said other position.

23. In a printing machine, comprising a table and a printing roll mechanism mounted to travel back and forth along said table including a printing roll having gear teeth engageable with the table in a manner to insure rotation of the roll in opposite directions during the back and forth travel of said mechanism and said roll also having gripper fingers for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, a paper sheet feed mechanism disposed at one end of the table into precise relationship with which the roll moves for receiving a paper sheet into the gripper fingers of the roll, a reversible electric motor carried by and movable with the printing roll mechanism and having connections with the printing roll to drive the printing roll, and stop means to stop travel of the printing roll mechanism with the printing roll in position to receive a paper sheet from said paper sheet feed mechanism, the combination therewith of means comprised in the connections between the motor and the printing roll eiective when travel of the`printing mechanism has been stopped by said stop means to permit continued rotation of the motor without corresponding rotation of the printing roll.

24. A printing mechanism, comprising a table having a paper sheet feed mechanism thereon including a movable stop device against which the paper sheet rests preparatory to delivery, and a printing roll mechanism mounted to travel along the table to and from said feed mechanism including a printing roll having a gripper finger for gripping a sheet from said feed mechanism, said printing roll mechanism including a part operable to' move said stop clear of the printing roll as said roll approaches the feed mechanism, and said printing roll mechanism having separate means operable to movethe stop for releasing Vthe paper sheet to the gripper fingers of the printing roll.

25. A printing machine comprising a table, a carriage mounted to travel back and forth along said table, a printing roll rotatably mounted upon the carriage, a sheet gripper finger carried by said roll to turn therewith, a cam carried by the carriage intended for engagement by .a part movable with the gripper finger for operating the gripper finger, said cam being movable from an inoperative position l ineffective to operate the gripper nger to operative position effective for operating said grippernger, and means to move said cam between its inoperative and operative positions incident to rotation of said roll.

26. A printing machine comprising a table, a printing roll mounted to roll back and forth between two positions along said table, a sheet gripper finger carried by said printing rollto turn therewith, a cam mounted to move back and forth along the table in company with said printing roll intended for engagement by a part movable with the gripper finger for operating a gripper finger, means whereby said cam is movable from an inoperative position ineffective to operate 10 the gripper nger to operative position effective for operating said gripper finger, oppositely positioned stops carried by the table, and a member Vmounted to move back and forth along the table in company with said printing roll arranged to be moved by engagement with said table stops to move said cam between its inoperative and operative positions incident to movement of the printing roll back and forth along the table.

27. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing roll mounted to travel back and forth between two positions along a suitable bed and having bed engaging means effective to cause rotation of said roll in opposite directionsL during the back and forth travel of said roll, roll lifting means operable to lift the roll from irnpression to non-impression position with respect to the bed, and said roll-also having a gripper finger for gripping a sheet of paper to be printed, of means operable by said bed engaging means to operate said gripper finger while the roll travels adjacent to one of its positions, and connections whereby operation of said roll lifting means will cause further operation of the gripper finger as the roll travels to adjacent its other position.

EMIL L. M'UELLER. 

